Thu. 12:47pm: Commissioners laud racino decision

May 2, 2013

YOUNGSTOWN - Mahoning County commissioners lauded the decision by the state race commission on Wednesday to approve plans for a proposed racino in Austintown.

Commissioner David Ditzler, a former Austintown trustee, said he is looking forward to the jobs the project will generate, while Commissioner Anthony Traficanti said he thinks public support for the project convinced the commission to grant its approval.

Penn National and the Ohio Race Commission have been at odds for several weeks over the number of spectator seats proposed for the track, with the race commission demanding hundreds of more seats before it would approve the license transfer to Austintown.

Construction - which has been on hold while the state and Penn National came to agreement - is expected to resume shortly.